PATIENTS in the North-East are being asked to take part in an important health survey.

Primary care trusts (PCTs) across the region have joined forces to invite a randomly-selected group of people to take part in a health and lifestyle survey.

The survey will ask questions about general health, smoking and drinking habits and how much exercise people get.

All of the answers will be confidential.

Some people have already agreed to take part in the survey, others who were chosen to take part will be sent a reminder in the next few days to encourage them to answer the questionnaire.

Ceri Mather, spokeswoman for Country Durham and Darlington PCTs said: "The survey is very important. The results will help the PCTs to better understand the health needs of local people and improve local services.

"The information we collect will help us to plan programmes for improving health and bid for extra resources."